5 Fish-Free Pâtés, From Tuna to Smoked Salmon

Pâté is a French delicacy that can be made from a variety of ingredients, including pork, duck, mushrooms, and fish. Regardless of the base, pâté tends to share several unifying characteristics: it’s puréed, spreadable, rich, savory, and typically served cold with crudités and crackers. If you’ve been craving the smooth, salty, umami flavors of fish pâté, specifically, but prefer to skip the seafood, we have good news: it’s possible to create a creamy fish pâté without using fish. Find some of our favorite vegan recipes below.

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Is fish pâté good for you?

Pâté is most commonly associated with France, but it is eaten and enjoyed all over the world. One of the most popular places to find fish pâté is in Portugal, for example, where it’s known as pasta de peixe. As it is in most countries, it’s often served with bread or crackers. 

Fish pâté is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and protein, but it does have some significant drawbacks. It can be high in sodium, for example, especially if it’s made with smoked or canned fish. It can also be a source of cholesterol, especially if it’s made with ingredients like egg yolks or butter.

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RELATED: 7 Flavorful Plant-Based Tuna Recipes, From Steaks to Sushi to Sandwiches

But that’s not all. Many pâté recipes are made with salmon, which is one of the most consumed fish in the world. However, this species is often associated with industrialized fish farms, sea lice outbreaks, and overfishing. For more on the issues with the salmon industry, check out our guide to fish-free salmon here. 

Can you make fish pâté with plants?

If eating pâté made with real fish doesn’t appeal to you, it is possible to make a similar paste using only plant-based ingredients. Silken tofu, for example, can be blended to make a similar creamy base, while nori or other seaweed varieties can be added to bring that fishy flavor. Lemon juice and dill also help to bring a signature tang to the mix, while olives or capers can provide a briny taste. 

How to make vegan fish pâté: 5 recipes to try

If you’ve got a craving for fish pâté without the fish, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve listed five ways to make an umami-rich and creamy pâté using only plant-based ingredients. 

Vegan Hot Stuff

1 Vegan Tuna Paté

In this recipe from Vegan Hot Stuff, recipe developer Deborah Bolton will walk you through how to make a homemade vegan tuna pâté using store-bought vegan tuna (but you can also make your own using ingredients like jackfruit and chickpea—find out more in our handy guide to tuna-free tuna here), as well as vegan Philadelphia cream cheese, vegan Greek yogurt, and vegan butter. “It’s creamy, spreadable, and actually tastes like tuna,” promises Bolton. “Serve it as a special occasion starter or spread it on bread or toast as a party snack. Either way, your guests will love it.”
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Call Me Ishbel

2 Vegan Smoked Salmon Pâté

You can get all the flavor of smoked salmon without the salmon by combining a few simple plant-based ingredients. For example, this tasty recipe from Call Me Ishbel uses cashew cream cheese, smoked carrots, red onions, capers, lemon, and dill.  “This culinary delight mirrors the rich, creamy texture and smoky, savory flavors of its traditional counterpart while offering a fresh, exciting twist,” says recipe developer Miggs Ishbel McTaylor.
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Fuss Free Flavors

3 Smoked (No) Fish Pâté

Canned beans are the secret to this velvety vegan fish pâté from Fuss Free Flavors. When blended with ingredients like smoked oil, liquid smoke, capers, and seaweed flakes, it offers the perfect smooth texture and strong ocean flavor. Recipe developer Helen Best-Shaw promises this spread is “quick, easy, and sure to satisfy.”
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Very Vegan Val

4 Super-Food Vegan Seed Pâté

One key nutritional benefit of fish pâté is its omega-3 content, however, it is possible to get these fatty acids from plants, too. This tasty recipe from Very Vegan Val combines seeds like flaxseeds and sesame seeds to create a spread that is rich in omega-3 and still totally plant-based. “This vegan seed pâté is super seedy, but you’d never know,” says recipe developer Valerie Zemba. “It’s rich and creamy, with a savory flavor, solid enough to hold its shape but soft enough to spread easily on a cracker or bread.”
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Laura’s Vegan Table

5 Vegan Smoked Fish Spread

This recipe from Laura’s Vegan Table relies on artichoke hearts to form the base of the pâté, which is combined with ingredients like lemon juice, Old Bay Seasoning, smoked salt, and horseradish to provide the signature potent flavor. The latter is balanced out perfectly by velvety cashew-based cream cheese. “The creamy, tangy cream cheese along with the texture of the artichokes and the spicy kick of horseradish is a winning combination,” says recipe developer Laura.
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